By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
The Youth Forum on Adaptation Finance in Africa (YOFAFA) is currently underway in Yaoundé, empowering young climate advocates to access Green Climate Fund (GCF) finance. The forum, which commenced on October 29th, will end on October 31st with the adoption of key recommendations.
This second edition of the forum has brought together approximately young people from across Africa to among other things identify critical barriers and opportunities for financing energy access projects that enhance climate resilience in Africa.
Speaking after the opening ceremony, H.E. Jean-Marc Chataigner, Ambassador of the European Union to Cameroon, acknowledged the importance of supporting adaptation efforts.
“Climate change is a reality, and its impact is evident in Africa, particularly in recent floods in the Northern Region of Cameroon. It is crucial to finance initiatives that enable us to adapt to this changing climate and anticipate its future effects,” he said.
Dr. Augustine B. Njamnshi, Executive Director of the African Coalition for Sustainable Energy and Access (ACSEA), highlighted the significant changes since the first edition of the forum.
“This forum will examine the persistent lack of adaptation finance. Climate finance from 2019 to 2022 was grossly insufficient to address Africa’s adaptation needs. However, increased advocacy and international attention on adaptation and adaptation finance are promising signs of progress since our last forum,” he stated.
Ambassador Seyni Nafo, Co-Chair of the Green Climate Fund and Coordinator of the African Adaptation Initiative, acknowledged the challenges associated with accessing climate finance, including the complexity of climate change itself.
Building on the momentum of the 2023 edition, which took place in Cameroon, the 2024 forum aims to amplify the Yaoundé Declaration’s call for urgent action from the international community to prioritize and double climate adaptation finance flows to Africa. The youth participants recognize this as a moral imperative and a strategic investment in Africa’s future resilience and prosperity.
The Youth Forum on Adaptation Finance in Africa seeks to inspire and empower 200 young activists to advocate for increased funding for climate adaptation in Africa. The 2024 forum began with a four-week online training program on Climate Finance Mobilization and the Green Climate Fund (GCF), equipping participants with knowledge and skills in climate finance, advocacy, and project development.
The forum will culminate in a coordinated advocacy campaign to raise awareness and call for action on adaptation finance in Africa. Participants will review and potentially reformulate “The Yaoundé African Youth Call for More than Doubling Climate Finance for Africa’s Future.” This revised call will be presented at a side event during COP29 in November 2024.
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